[Applause] let’s imagine together for a moment
let’s imagine together for a moment
let’s imagine together for a moment imagine that we are on a rickety train
imagine that we are on a rickety train
imagine that we are on a rickety train in the heart of Mexico traveling north
in the heart of Mexico traveling north
in the heart of Mexico traveling north towards the United States border but
towards the United States border but
towards the United States border but don’t freak out because that wall still
don’t freak out because that wall still
don’t freak out because that wall still has not been built in a cabin crowded
has not been built in a cabin crowded
has not been built in a cabin crowded with strangers your parents and four
with strangers your parents and four
with strangers your parents and four siblings do what they can to remain cool
siblings do what they can to remain cool
siblings do what they can to remain cool as you travel through the desert heat
as you travel through the desert heat
as you travel through the desert heat along the way the stops are few and
along the way the stops are few and
along the way the stops are few and water is scarce and your safety is
water is scarce and your safety is
water is scarce and your safety is anything but guaranteed people squirm in
anything but guaranteed people squirm in
anything but guaranteed people squirm in their seats as they attempt to find a
their seats as they attempt to find a
their seats as they attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep as we all
comfortable position to sleep as we all
comfortable position to sleep as we all just bounce along the tracks and
just bounce along the tracks and
just bounce along the tracks and although this is a small price to pay
although this is a small price to pay
although this is a small price to pay for what lies ahead hope because your
for what lies ahead hope because your
for what lies ahead hope because your family’s headed to America that great
family’s headed to America that great
family’s headed to America that great nation of immigrants from all over the
nation of immigrants from all over the
nation of immigrants from all over the globe where the opportunity to form a
globe where the opportunity to form a
globe where the opportunity to form a new life awaits as you imagine with me
new life awaits as you imagine with me
new life awaits as you imagine with me you’d be forgiven if images of 2018
you’d be forgiven if images of 2018
you’d be forgiven if images of 2018 filled your mind but our story took
filled your mind but our story took
filled your mind but our story took place a century ago in 1918 what a crazy
place a century ago in 1918 what a crazy
place a century ago in 1918 what a crazy time it was across Europe World War one
time it was across Europe World War one
time it was across Europe World War one was that it’s a pet heralding the end of
was that it’s a pet heralding the end of
was that it’s a pet heralding the end of the last five great modern empires of
the last five great modern empires of
the last five great modern empires of Russia Germany austria-hungary Turkey
Russia Germany austria-hungary Turkey
Russia Germany austria-hungary Turkey and China in the United States the Ford
and China in the United States the Ford
and China in the United States the Ford model-t continued to dominate the
model-t continued to dominate the
model-t continued to dominate the automotive industry and the movement
automotive industry and the movement
automotive industry and the movement towards prohibition was gaining steam
towards prohibition was gaining steam
towards prohibition was gaining steam innovations such as Einstein’s general
innovations such as Einstein’s general
innovations such as Einstein’s general theory of relativity the production of
theory of relativity the production of
theory of relativity the production of stainless steel and even the pants
stainless steel and even the pants
stainless steel and even the pants zipper were all mere months from one
zipper were all mere months from one
zipper were all mere months from one another and in the midst of these
another and in the midst of these
another and in the midst of these tectonic shifts of history and culture
tectonic shifts of history and culture
tectonic shifts of history and culture 40 day old baby girl swaddled in village
40 day old baby girl swaddled in village
40 day old baby girl swaddled in village clothing is held close in her mother’s
clothing is held close in her mother’s
clothing is held close in her mother’s arms as they make the 2400 kilometer
arms as they make the 2400 kilometer
arms as they make the 2400 kilometer journey from Missha walk on Mexico to
journey from Missha walk on Mexico to
journey from Missha walk on Mexico to the United States
the United States
the United States her name was Esperanza which translates
her name was Esperanza which translates
her name was Esperanza which translates fittingly to hope she was my grandmother
fittingly to hope she was my grandmother
fittingly to hope she was my grandmother the Mexican Revolution turned the state
the Mexican Revolution turned the state
the Mexican Revolution turned the state of Michelin into a literal battlefield a
of Michelin into a literal battlefield a
of Michelin into a literal battlefield a steady barrage of attacks from
steady barrage of attacks from
steady barrage of attacks from insurgents and rebels would often force
insurgents and rebels would often force
insurgents and rebels would often force villagers into hiding in the hills
villagers into hiding in the hills
villagers into hiding in the hills well the fortunate ones would have their
well the fortunate ones would have their
well the fortunate ones would have their homes ransacked and possessions taken
homes ransacked and possessions taken
homes ransacked and possessions taken and and those not so lucky would succumb
and and those not so lucky would succumb
and and those not so lucky would succumb to abuses of all kinds and it’s within
to abuses of all kinds and it’s within
to abuses of all kinds and it’s within this backdrop that the baby Esperanza
this backdrop that the baby Esperanza
this backdrop that the baby Esperanza and her family take the precious few
and her family take the precious few
and her family take the precious few belongings that they have left and flee
belongings that they have left and flee
belongings that they have left and flee home to the north in search of a new
home to the north in search of a new
home to the north in search of a new home it was only recently that I began
home it was only recently that I began
home it was only recently that I began to appreciate the details of my
to appreciate the details of my
to appreciate the details of my grandmother’s migration story you see I
grandmother’s migration story you see I
grandmother’s migration story you see I had known that she had migrated from
had known that she had migrated from
had known that she had migrated from Mexico as a child but I never truly
Mexico as a child but I never truly
Mexico as a child but I never truly stopped to consider what she might have
stopped to consider what she might have
stopped to consider what she might have lost and gained along the way I suppose
lost and gained along the way I suppose
lost and gained along the way I suppose you could say it wasn’t until I too
you could say it wasn’t until I too
you could say it wasn’t until I too became an immigrant that I could begin
became an immigrant that I could begin
became an immigrant that I could begin to appreciate what is lost and what is
to appreciate what is lost and what is
to appreciate what is lost and what is gained in the journey in a few months
gained in the journey in a few months
gained in the journey in a few months I’ll have lived in South Korea for a
I’ll have lived in South Korea for a
I’ll have lived in South Korea for a full 13 years my wife and I are at that
full 13 years my wife and I are at that
full 13 years my wife and I are at that strange point where when people ask us
strange point where when people ask us
strange point where when people ask us where is your home were not quite sure
where is your home were not quite sure
where is your home were not quite sure how to respond because it’s California
how to respond because it’s California
how to respond because it’s California right but then again it’s it’s it’s
right but then again it’s it’s it’s
right but then again it’s it’s it’s South Korea right it has to be and and
South Korea right it has to be and and
South Korea right it has to be and and we wondered to one another can it just
we wondered to one another can it just
we wondered to one another can it just be both it so got me wondering in this
be both it so got me wondering in this
be both it so got me wondering in this world that you and I live in a world
world that you and I live in a world
world that you and I live in a world filled with global.nomads
filled with global.nomads
filled with global.nomads what is it that ties us to the coach of
what is it that ties us to the coach of
what is it that ties us to the coach of our lineage these are our complexions is
our lineage these are our complexions is
our lineage these are our complexions is it our style of dress is it our values
it our style of dress is it our values
it our style of dress is it our values is it our language perhaps it’s all
is it our language perhaps it’s all
is it our language perhaps it’s all those things but for me nothing brings
those things but for me nothing brings
those things but for me nothing brings me home more than the food growing up in
me home more than the food growing up in
me home more than the food growing up in a large Hispanic family food is one of
a large Hispanic family food is one of
a large Hispanic family food is one of those things that there’s never a
those things that there’s never a
those things that there’s never a shortage of my parents between the two
shortage of my parents between the two
shortage of my parents between the two of them have 13 siblings
of them have 13 siblings
of them have 13 siblings yay for biology
that means that I have 36 cousins and
that means that I have 36 cousins and when you add in the aunts and the uncles
when you add in the aunts and the uncles
when you add in the aunts and the uncles and the cousins having kids and their
and the cousins having kids and their
and the cousins having kids and their kids having kids there are a total of a
kids having kids there are a total of a
kids having kids there are a total of a hundred and forty of us I’m not sure if
hundred and forty of us I’m not sure if
hundred and forty of us I’m not sure if these are family trees or diagrams on
these are family trees or diagrams on
these are family trees or diagrams on multi-level marketing but that’s my
multi-level marketing but that’s my
multi-level marketing but that’s my family and no matter the occasion
family and no matter the occasion
family and no matter the occasion because families are so big and love
because families are so big and love
because families are so big and love each other so much it was always the
each other so much it was always the
each other so much it was always the food that took center stage because as
food that took center stage because as
food that took center stage because as we all know our grandmothers they’re a
we all know our grandmothers they’re a
we all know our grandmothers they’re a bit obsessed with ensuring that
bit obsessed with ensuring that
bit obsessed with ensuring that everybody is well fed beans and rice
everybody is well fed beans and rice
everybody is well fed beans and rice menudo flautas sofas enchiladas
menudo flautas sofas enchiladas
menudo flautas sofas enchiladas all the good stuff all the stuff that
all the good stuff all the stuff that
all the good stuff all the stuff that might have got a certain person
might have got a certain person
might have got a certain person childhood obesity
these dishes were labors of love often
these dishes were labors of love often began early in the morning or even the
began early in the morning or even the
began early in the morning or even the evening before and I could still see as
evening before and I could still see as
evening before and I could still see as I close my eyes the steam rising from
I close my eyes the steam rising from
I close my eyes the steam rising from corn houses the tamales are being
corn houses the tamales are being
corn houses the tamales are being prepared and the fragrance of the masa
prepared and the fragrance of the masa
prepared and the fragrance of the masa and the chili and the meat rolling from
and the chili and the meat rolling from
and the chili and the meat rolling from the kitchen into the dining area and on
the kitchen into the dining area and on
the kitchen into the dining area and on every occasion on the most average of
every occasion on the most average of
every occasion on the most average of days let’s say a Wednesday there are
days let’s say a Wednesday there are
days let’s say a Wednesday there are always homemade tortillas
always homemade tortillas
always homemade tortillas warm thick and fluffy firm enough to
warm thick and fluffy firm enough to
warm thick and fluffy firm enough to hold whatever you put into them and I
hold whatever you put into them and I
hold whatever you put into them and I try to put a lot and soft enough to
try to put a lot and soft enough to
try to put a lot and soft enough to welcome a by tortillas that were
welcome a by tortillas that were
welcome a by tortillas that were absolutely positively and well
absolutely positively and well
absolutely positively and well unapologetically perfect now the humble
unapologetically perfect now the humble
unapologetically perfect now the humble tortilla is notable for a few reasons
tortilla is notable for a few reasons
tortilla is notable for a few reasons first of which is you could probably
first of which is you could probably
first of which is you could probably find its cultural equivalent anywhere in
find its cultural equivalent anywhere in
find its cultural equivalent anywhere in the globe there is chapati in Uganda
the globe there is chapati in Uganda
the globe there is chapati in Uganda lavash in Armenia pita in Greece naan in
lavash in Armenia pita in Greece naan in
lavash in Armenia pita in Greece naan in India paratha in Pakistan additionally
India paratha in Pakistan additionally
India paratha in Pakistan additionally while the ingredients are incredibly
while the ingredients are incredibly
while the ingredients are incredibly basic good tortillas are equally
basic good tortillas are equally
basic good tortillas are equally incredibly difficult to make for the
incredibly difficult to make for the
incredibly difficult to make for the uninitiated and at first I thought
uninitiated and at first I thought
uninitiated and at first I thought making my own was going to be a piece of
making my own was going to be a piece of
making my own was going to be a piece of cake because I’m Mexican ish how hard
cake because I’m Mexican ish how hard
cake because I’m Mexican ish how hard could it really be but I can’t tell you
could it really be but I can’t tell you
could it really be but I can’t tell you guys how many abominations I created in
guys how many abominations I created in
guys how many abominations I created in my kitchen attempting to reproduce what
my kitchen attempting to reproduce what
my kitchen attempting to reproduce what preliterate societies perfected
preliterate societies perfected
preliterate societies perfected thousands of years ago my tortillas were
thousands of years ago my tortillas were
thousands of years ago my tortillas were not warm thick and fluffy they were far
not warm thick and fluffy they were far
not warm thick and fluffy they were far from perfect they were burnt brittle
from perfect they were burnt brittle
from perfect they were burnt brittle sticky gummy this this Frankenstein as
sticky gummy this this Frankenstein as
sticky gummy this this Frankenstein as you as it is of Laffy Taffy and matza
you as it is of Laffy Taffy and matza
you as it is of Laffy Taffy and matza and in my angst on a trip home I I went
and in my angst on a trip home I I went
and in my angst on a trip home I I went to my grandmother’s and I asked them
to my grandmother’s and I asked them
to my grandmother’s and I asked them each of them how do you make your
each of them how do you make your
each of them how do you make your tortillas so perfect how do you how do
tortillas so perfect how do you how do
tortillas so perfect how do you how do you do it and at this point in life
you do it and at this point in life
you do it and at this point in life there are well pastor to you making age
there are well pastor to you making age
there are well pastor to you making age so the whole learning-by-doing was
so the whole learning-by-doing was
so the whole learning-by-doing was completely out of the question and I got
completely out of the question and I got
completely out of the question and I got to tell you guys he’s gonna be honest
to tell you guys he’s gonna be honest
to tell you guys he’s gonna be honest with you we could be honest right I was
with you we could be honest right I was
with you we could be honest right I was a bit underwhelmed with how my
a bit underwhelmed with how my
a bit underwhelmed with how my grandmother’s responded went a bit like
grandmother’s responded went a bit like
grandmother’s responded went a bit like this Nihal
this Nihal
this Nihal get some flour flour get a ball put the
get some flour flour get a ball put the
get some flour flour get a ball put the flour in the ball I think I know where
flour in the ball I think I know where
flour in the ball I think I know where this is going a little salt a scoop of
this is going a little salt a scoop of
this is going a little salt a scoop of lard lard beat of baking powder bit of
lard lard beat of baking powder bit of
lard lard beat of baking powder bit of baking powder grandma
baking powder grandma
baking powder grandma what about the water oh yeah water how
what about the water oh yeah water how
what about the water oh yeah water how much grandma enough scoop bit little
much grandma enough scoop bit little
much grandma enough scoop bit little enough not what I was looking forward to
enough not what I was looking forward to
enough not what I was looking forward to exactly make perfect tortillas and the
exactly make perfect tortillas and the
exactly make perfect tortillas and the more I pressed her the more I came to
more I pressed her the more I came to
more I pressed her the more I came to the painful realization that neither of
the painful realization that neither of
the painful realization that neither of my grandmother’s in fact relied on
my grandmother’s in fact relied on
my grandmother’s in fact relied on measuring devices see they’ve been
measuring devices see they’ve been
measuring devices see they’ve been raised doing this as all grandmother’s
raised doing this as all grandmother’s
raised doing this as all grandmother’s do a combined 130 years of tortilla
do a combined 130 years of tortilla
do a combined 130 years of tortilla making experience skills passed down
making experience skills passed down
making experience skills passed down from generation to generation
from generation to generation
from generation to generation and within their very being and
and within their very being and
and within their very being and intuition that you can’t copy on a
intuition that you can’t copy on a
intuition that you can’t copy on a recipe book so I knew that for the time
recipe book so I knew that for the time
recipe book so I knew that for the time being store-bought tortillas we just
being store-bought tortillas we just
being store-bought tortillas we just have to be my faded sorry grandma and
have to be my faded sorry grandma and
have to be my faded sorry grandma and here’s what I found at the local grocery
here’s what I found at the local grocery
here’s what I found at the local grocery store ladies and gentlemen you’ve been
store ladies and gentlemen you’ve been
store ladies and gentlemen you’ve been lied to
lied to
lied to these aren’t tortillas these are what we
these aren’t tortillas these are what we
these aren’t tortillas these are what we call frisbees now you might say it’s a
call frisbees now you might say it’s a
call frisbees now you might say it’s a noble attempt but I can tell you there’s
noble attempt but I can tell you there’s
noble attempt but I can tell you there’s just a lot that’s not quite right about
just a lot that’s not quite right about
just a lot that’s not quite right about them and it’s not just the ingredients
them and it’s not just the ingredients
them and it’s not just the ingredients because those are essentially the same
because those are essentially the same
because those are essentially the same and it’s not the packaging because it
and it’s not the packaging because it
and it’s not the packaging because it says in two languages tortilla but
says in two languages tortilla but
says in two languages tortilla but there’s something in the way they feel
where they smell and look where they
where they smell and look where they taste that someone like me could only
taste that someone like me could only
taste that someone like me could only describe as lifeless
describe as lifeless
describe as lifeless I think we all know that intangible
I think we all know that intangible
I think we all know that intangible quality of homemade food that attempts
quality of homemade food that attempts
quality of homemade food that attempts to skip description but I’m gonna give
to skip description but I’m gonna give
to skip description but I’m gonna give that a try
that a try
that a try how about robust how about honest
how about earthy these lack all those
how about earthy these lack all those things because you see the shape is just
things because you see the shape is just
things because you see the shape is just a little too perfectly round and the
a little too perfectly round and the
a little too perfectly round and the surface is just a little too perfectly
surface is just a little too perfectly
surface is just a little too perfectly flat and and I’d imagine being
flat and and I’d imagine being
flat and and I’d imagine being mass-produced in a factory the the
mass-produced in a factory the the
mass-produced in a factory the the ingredients are just a little too
ingredients are just a little too
ingredients are just a little too perfectly uniform in fact we could
perfectly uniform in fact we could
perfectly uniform in fact we could probably say this that these tortillas
probably say this that these tortillas
probably say this that these tortillas are technically mechanically
are technically mechanically
are technically mechanically proportionally and well lifelessly
proportionally and well lifelessly
proportionally and well lifelessly perfect made by machines that bear the
perfect made by machines that bear the
perfect made by machines that bear the mark of expedience not by hands that
mark of expedience not by hands that
mark of expedience not by hands that bear the marks of experience those
bear the marks of experience those
bear the marks of experience those things you don’t measure out in
things you don’t measure out in
things you don’t measure out in tablespoons ounces or grams but in love
tablespoons ounces or grams but in love
tablespoons ounces or grams but in love compassion and care I’m only beginning
compassion and care I’m only beginning
compassion and care I’m only beginning to understand the truth that’s been
to understand the truth that’s been
to understand the truth that’s been before me since I was a child that
before me since I was a child that
before me since I was a child that perfect tortillas have less to do with
perfect tortillas have less to do with
perfect tortillas have less to do with the shape and the texture and the
the shape and the texture and the
the shape and the texture and the uniformity of the ingredients and more
uniformity of the ingredients and more
uniformity of the ingredients and more to do with a story that stands behind
to do with a story that stands behind
to do with a story that stands behind them stories that we taste in every
them stories that we taste in every
them stories that we taste in every single bite stories that we are invited
single bite stories that we are invited
single bite stories that we are invited to relive as all homemade food passed
to relive as all homemade food passed
to relive as all homemade food passed down to us is because our grandmother’s
down to us is because our grandmother’s
down to us is because our grandmother’s era wants little girls raised by their
era wants little girls raised by their
era wants little girls raised by their parents who did the best they could to
parents who did the best they could to
parents who did the best they could to make their way through a crazy world
make their way through a crazy world
make their way through a crazy world their once beautiful young ladies who
their once beautiful young ladies who
their once beautiful young ladies who gave her heart to a lucky man and chose
gave her heart to a lucky man and chose
gave her heart to a lucky man and chose to build a family with him and our
to build a family with him and our
to build a family with him and our grandmothers stand now as the maid
grandmothers stand now as the maid
grandmothers stand now as the maid sharks of the home who willingly
sharks of the home who willingly
sharks of the home who willingly embraced lack so that we could made
embraced lack so that we could made
embraced lack so that we could made so the next time you find yourself in
so the next time you find yourself in
so the next time you find yourself in the kitchen with Grandma or your mom and
the kitchen with Grandma or your mom and
the kitchen with Grandma or your mom and you’re making a family recipe challenge
you’re making a family recipe challenge
you’re making a family recipe challenge you take a moment and learn its story
you take a moment and learn its story
you take a moment and learn its story when the time comes
when the time comes
when the time comes pass that on to the next generation
pass that on to the next generation
pass that on to the next generation because no matter how far they travel
because no matter how far they travel
because no matter how far they travel from home it’ll always be a reminder to
from home it’ll always be a reminder to
from home it’ll always be a reminder to them of where they belong
them of where they belong
them of where they belong thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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